Santa’s making his final checks on his list. And shoppers are frantically searching for that last minute present. But the NFL marches onward to the playoffs, so diehard fans are going to have to plan out their weekends carefully.
With the looming holiday on Monday, the NFL has spread out this week’s games evenly over Saturday and Sunday, which might make it harder to find your favorite team. And one game will stream exclusively on the Peacock streaming service, bypassing the networks.
Here’s a look at how to find them.
Which NFL teams are playing this week? And what channels are airing the games?
Here’s who’s playing where and when this week. (The home team is listed second.)
Saturday, Dec. 23
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 a.m. ET on NBC
Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 8:00 p.m. ET on Peacock
Sunday, Dec. 24
Washington Commanders vs. New York Jets, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
Arizona Cardinals vs. Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos, 8:15 p.m. ET on NFL Network
How can I watch NFL games for free—even if I am out of market?
Almost every NFL game can be watched without a cable subscription, though you do need to be in the right market to catch them. The best way to do that (and watch any sort of network programming) for free on a big screen is with a good HD antenna. To ensure you're getting the most reliable signal, be sure to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.
Note that two games this weekend will not be broadcast over the air.
Can I stream NFL games live online if I don't have a cable subscription?
This weekend, that might be your best bet. Try one (or more) of these methods.
Peacock
NBC’s streaming service will give you access to several games, including tonight’s contest and all upcoming Sunday night matchups. You can get a seven-day free trial, followed by a $6 or $12 monthly charge. (The free version of Peacock does not include live sports.)
Disney+
Disney's bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $15 per month for all three combined (or $25 per month for no ads on Hulu).
Including Live TV in the bundle bumps the price to $77 per month ($90 with no ads).
Hulu with Live TV
The free trial on this service is no longer offered, either. It will now cost you $77 per month.
YouTubeTV
After up to a two-week trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73. YouTube is also now the home of Sunday Ticket. Prices on that service currently range from $300 to $439 for the season, with some current discounts.
Sling TV
Dish Network's Sling lower-tiered "Orange" plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive "Blue" plan bumps the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial has disappeared, but the cord-cutting service is offering 50% off of the first month’s bill.
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $75 per month and up after the free trial option.
Fubo TV
This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There's a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $75 and up, depending on the channels you choose.
Can I watch the NFL games on Amazon?
Not this weekend. But on Dec. 28, Amazon will stream its last game of the season, with the New York Jets battling the Cleveland Browns.
Does the NFL offer any viewing packages to watch the games I want?
Several!
NFL App
The NFL App will let you stream games that are being broadcast locally in your market on Sundays. If you want to watch an "out of market" game, you've got two choices.
NFL+
Watch live local and out of market games and (with the premium subscription) replays. There's a seven-day free trial, after which you're looking at a charge of $6.99 per month (including NFL Network). ($14.99 per month for premium, which includes NFL Network and RedZone.)
NFL Sunday Ticket
As mentioned above, YouTube has taken over broadcast duties for this channel, replacing DirecTV. With the current offered discounts, prices on the service (and the optional NFL Red Zone) currently range from $300 to $439 for the season.
